- 1970s: “Inadvertent Climate Modification” (NAS, 1971)
- 1980s–1990s: “Global Warming”
- 2000s: “Climate Change”
- Present: “Global Change” – includes climate change, land use, biodiversity, pollution, etc.
GHG’s play a critical role in maintaining Earth’s habitable temperature. Without GHG’s, Earth would likely plunge into an ice age, as heat would escape back into space.
Excessive nutrient levels lead to rapid algal growth. As these algal blooms decay, oxygen is depleted in the water, suffocating fish and other organisms
Oceans absorb CO2. When CO2 dissolves in seawater, it forms carbonic acid, releasing hydrogen ions and increases ocean acidity. More acidification makes it harder for organisms to build/maintain shells
Invasive species often lack natural predators/diseases in new locations, allowing them to grow rapidly and outcome native species
When corals becomes stressed, the zooxanthellae (colorful algae) leave, causing coral bleaching and potentially death of the corals
What causes corals to be stressed?